CIT and MACH37 Expand Cybersecurity Partnership with UVa-Wise

Herndon, VA, Nov. 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) and the MACH37 Cyber Accelerator are pleased to announce continued momentum for their partnership with the University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVa-Wise), aimed at enhancing the region’s cybersecurity capabilities through supporting a growing pipeline of well-educated students who will be joining the workforce. For the third year, CIT and MACH37 will travel to the UVa-Wise campus on Nov. 14, 2018 to introduce a group of their portfolio companies to the region, and host an information session designed to connect talented students, graduates, faculty and other members of the greater community with these companies. 

“Our last two visits to the UVa-Wise campus and Southwest Virginia proved to be highly successful,” said Ed Albrigo, President & CEO, CIT. “We look forward to building upon this momentum by including more of our GAP Fund portfolio companies, in addition to MACH37 companies, in the 2018 event. These entrepreneurs have a wealth of firsthand experience to offer, and I am confident in the value they will bring to this initiative and the impact they will have on the region.”

Originally initiated by the McAuliffe administration through Virginia Secretary of Technology Karen Jackson in 2016, the CIT and UVa-Wise partnership was created to help build a pipeline of trained cyber security and software development professionals to serve the state of Virginia. As UVa-Wise works to expand their accredited technology programs, the university seeks input from CIT and MACH37 portfolio companies on the training courses and overall curriculum to help guide cybersecurity education and employment efforts. A grant provided by the Verizon Corporation supports the partnership’s efforts to expand the number of students that get internships and the number of companies that have access to these highly trained graduates. 

“Having CIT and MACH37 return for another year is an exciting step to continue the expansion of this region’s cybersecurity capabilities,” says Donna Henry, UVa-Wise Chancellor. “We are excited to also welcome spokespeople from the Heart of Appalachia, Mountain Empire Community College, Southwest Virginia Community College and Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) at the event. By collaborating together, we can better prepare our students for careers in this critical industry. This program will also provide MACH37 with access to University research expertise and allow each organization to leverage one another's valuable stakeholder relationships.”

The region has tremendous assets such as a well-educated work force, lower cost of living than Northern Virginia, an abundance of high speed broadband and high capacity electrical infrastructure – all factors that are paving the way for Southwest Virginia to become the region’s next technological hub.

The agenda for the Nov. 14 information session includes time spent discussing the Southwest Virginia economic landscape, an overview of the region’s cybersecurity initiatives, and deep dives into the technology program curriculum and training offered by UVa-Wise and the surrounding community colleges. There will also be an opportunity for CEO’s of the CIT and MACH37 companies to interview potential hires from the region. 

About The Center for Innovative Technology 
The Center for Innovative Technology (CIT), a nonprofit corporation, has been Virginia’s primary driver of innovation and entrepreneurship since 1985. CIT accelerates the next generation of technology and technology companies through commercialization, capital formation, market development and revenue generation services. To facilitate national innovation leadership and accelerate the rate of technology adoption, CIT creates partnerships between innovative technology start-up companies and advanced technology consumers.  To learn more, please visit www.cit.org. You can also follow CIT on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. 

About CIT GAP Funds
CIT GAP Funds makes seed-stage equity investments in Virginia-based technology, clean tech and life science companies with a high potential for achieving rapid growth and generating significant economic return for entrepreneurs, co-investors and the Commonwealth of Virginia. CIT GAP Funds’ investments are overseen by the CIT GAP Funds Investment Advisory Board (IAB). This independent, third-party panel consists of leading regional entrepreneurs, angel and strategic investors, and venture capital firms such as New Enterprise Associates, Grotech Ventures, Valhalla Partners, Harbert Venture Partners HIG Ventures, Edison Ventures, In-Q-Tel, Intersouth Partners, SJF Ventures, Carilion Health Systems, Johnson & Johnson, General Electric, and Alpha Natural Resources. For more information, please visit www.citgapfunds.org.

About MACH37 
MACH37 is the premier accelerator for information security entrepreneurs and cyber startups. We go beyond the traditional model of typical business accelerators by bringing our innovators focused mentorship and support from our extensive network of visionaries, practitioners, and successful entrepreneurs from across the security industry. Our curriculum is designed to propel cyber startups into the marketplace, equipped with the skills to connect with customers, grow and compete for funding, and generate traction.  MACH37, launched in 2013, operates under a joint venture between VentureScope LLC and the Center for Innovative Technology, in Herndon, Virginia. To learn more, please visit www.mach37.com and follow @MACH37cyber on Twitter.